GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Syllabus 2027: Download PDF, Pattern and PYQs

Linear Algebra

Determinants and matrices, Systems of linear equations, Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Calculus

Functions, Limit, Continuity, Differentiability, Local maxima and minima, Taylor series, Tests for
convergence, Definite and indefinite integrals, Application of definite integral to obtain area and volume, Partial and total derivatives, Linear and non-linear first order ordinary differential equations (ODE).

Numerical Methods

Approximation, errors, accuracy and precision in numerical methods; Numerical solutions
(roots) of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; Interpolation and curve fitting - Least square
approximation, Newton’s and Lagrange polynomials; Numerical differentiation and integration - trapezoidal
and Simpson’s rule; Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations - single and multi-step methods.

Probability and Statistics

Descriptive statistics, Measurement of central tendency, Dispersion, Skewness and kurtosis, Probability concepts, Conditional probability, Bayes theorem, Risk and reliability, Probability distributions, Correlation, Single and multiple regression models, Hypothesis testing (t-test, F-test, chi-square test).

Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry

Covalent and ionic bonding; Chemical equations, concentration and activity; Structure and chemistry of organic molecules; Chemical equilibria; Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions

Principles of Water Chemistry

Water quality parameters and their measurement; Acid-base equilibria; Buffer solution; Carbonate equilibrium; Solubility of gases in water; Complexation, precipitation, and redox reactions; Inorganic and organic contaminants. 

Soil Chemistry

Organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, cation exchange capacity, base saturation,
and sodium absorption ratio

Atmospheric Chemistry

Composition of the atmosphere; Reactivity of trace substances in the atmosphere; Chemistry of ozone formation

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microbiology

Characteristics of diverse groups of microorganisms; Classification of microorganisms; Microbial diversity; Role of microorganisms in wastewater treatment, bioremediation and biogeochemical cycling.

Cell Chemistry and Cell Biology

Structure of proteins, nucleic acid (DNA & RNA), lipids and polysaccharides; Structure of cell; Structure and function of cytoplasmic membrane, cell wall, outer membrane, glycocalyx; antimicrobial resistance, quorum sensing

Microbial Metabolism

Anabolism and catabolism; Phosphorylation; Glycolysis; TCA cycle; Electron transport
chain; Fermentation; Anaerobic respiration; Energy balances; Enzymes and Enzyme kinetics

Growth and Control of Microorganisms

Bacterial nutrition and growth; Specific growth rate and doubling time; Monod’s model; Types of culture media; Batch and continuous culture; Effects of environmental factors on growth; Control of microbes using physical and chemical methods

Microbiology and Health

Pathogens and modes of transmission; Indicator organisms; Quantification of
coliforms using MPN and membrane filtration techniques

Global Water Resources

Structure, properties and distribution of water; Threats to water resources; Water
conservation

Surface Water Resources

Hydrological cycle and water balance - precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration,
runoff; Flow hydrographs; Unit hydrographs; Stage-discharge relationship; Reservoir capacity; Surface water management; Rain water harvesting and storage.

Groundwater Resources

Geologic formations as aquifers; Vadose and saturated zones; Confined and unconfined
aquifers and their parameters - porosity, permeability, transmissivity and storage coefficient; Darcy’s law and applications; Steady state well hydraulics.

Environmental Hydraulics

Concepts of mechanics; Properties of fluids; Pressure measurement; Hydrostatic force
on surfaces; Buoyancy and flotation; Laminar and turbulent flow; Flow through pipes; Pipe networks; Forces on immersed bodies; Flow measurement in channels and pipes; Kinematics of flow; Continuity, momentum and energy equations; Channel hydraulics - specific energy, critical flow, hydraulic jump, rapid and gradually varied flow; Design of lined channels

Water and Wastewater Quality Parameters

Water and wastewater quality parameters; Eutrophication and thermal stratification in lakes; River pollution - Oxygen sag curve.

Water Treatment Methods

Screening, sedimentation with and without coagulation, filtration, desalination,
disinfection; Water distribution and storage

Point and Non-Point Sources of Wastewater

Point and non-point sources of wastewater; Population forecasting methods; Design of sewer and storm water sewers; Sewer appurtenances; Preliminary, primary, secondary and tertiary sewage treatment; Sludge generation, processing and disposal methods; Sewage farming

Sources and Characteristics of Industrial Effluents

Sources and characteristics of industrial effluents; Concept of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP); Wastewater recycling and zero liquid discharge

Kinetics and Reactor Design

Mass and energy balance, Order and rate of reactions, Batch reactors, Completely mixed flow reactors, Plug flow reactors

Air and Noise Pollution

Structure and composition of the atmosphere; sources (natural and anthropogenic); Atmospheric processes (emission, transformation, transport, removal); Indoor air pollution; Effects on health and environment; Air pollution: gases and particulate matter; Air quality standards; Primary and secondary pollutants; Criteria pollutants; primary and secondary pollutants; ambient and emission standards; air quality indices; visibility and radiative effects

Particulate Pollutants

Measurement and control methods; Control of particulate air pollutants using gravitational
settling chambers, cyclone separators, wet scrubbers, fabric filters (Baghouse filter), electrostatic precipitators (ESP).

Gaseous Pollutants

Measurement and control methods; Control of gaseous contaminants: absorption, adsorption,
condensation and combustion; Control of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons; Diffusion, Fick’s law and interfacial mass transfer. Vehicular emission control systems, including diesel particulate filters (DPFs), catalytic converters, and fuel standards

Air Quality Management

Point, line and area sources; Inventory; Meteorology and dispersion; atmospheric
stability and inversion, mixing height, wind rose diagrams, Gaussian plume dispersion modelling, and topographic influences

Noise Pollution

Sources; Health effects; Standards; Measurement parameters (sound pressure level, equivalent continuous sound level Leq, day-night level Ldn); frequency analysis; and control and mitigation methods

Integrated solid-waste management

Integrated solid waste management; Waste hierarchy; Rules and regulations for solid waste management in India

Municipal Solid-Waste Management

Sources, generation, characteristics, collection, segregation, and transportation, waste processing and disposal (including reuse options, biological methods, energy recovery
processes and landfilling), waste-to-energy technologies, circular economy principles, life-cycle energy analysis, decentralised renewable systems, and urban metabolism.

Hazardous Waste Management

Characteristics, generation, fate of materials in the environment, treatment and
disposal. Soil contamination and leaching of contaminants into groundwater.

Management of Biomedical Waste, Plastic Waste, and E-waste

Sources, generation and characteristics; Waste management practices including storage, collection and transfer.

Global Effects of Air Pollution

Greenhouse gases, radiative forcing and global warming potential (GWP), climate change, urban heat islands, acid rain, ozone hole. Ecology and various ecosystems; Biodiversity; Factors influencing increase in population, energy consumption, and environmental degradation.

Environmental Management Systems

Environmental Management Systems; ISO14000 series; Environmental Auditing: Environmental Impact Assessment; Life cycle assessment; Human health risk assessment; Occupational Health and Hygiene, Physical & Chemical Hazards.

Environmental Law and Policy

Objectives; Polluter pays principle, Precautionary principle; The Water and Air Acts with amendments; The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) 1986; National Green Tribunal Act, 2010; National Environment Policy; Principles of International Law and International treaties.

Energy and Environment

Overview of resources and reserves; Renewable and non-renewable energy sources; Energy-Environment nexus

Sustainable Development

Definition and concepts of sustainable development; Sustainable Development Goals;
Hurdles to sustainability; Environment and economics; carbon pricing, emission trading, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks

A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S Agarwal

A Handbook of Engineering Mathematics

B.S Grewal

GATE Engineering Mathematics for All

Arihant Publications

Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry

Manahan, S.E

Brock Biology of Microorganisms

Micheal T. Madigan, John M. Martinko

Water Supply Engineering

SK Garg

Principles of Environmental Science

Cunningham W.P and Cunningham M.A